Somewhere to write things

The future is coming, um, came

ENGLISH EXTRACTS
STEAM CARRIAGE.
In the Report of the Select Committee of the House of Commons on Steam-carriages, it is observed, that the time is not very distant when a complete alteration will take place in the means of inland conveyance. All the witnesses agree in stating, that Steam-carriages will work on common roads with as much certainty and safety as the best stage coaches now plying, and at the rate of ten, twelve, and, on extraordinary occasions, thirty miles an hour, at the same time carrying twelve passengers. Two or three witnesses anticipate, that steam power will supersede draft horses in waggons, carts, and vans, and one sanguine individual expects to see, it dragging the plough and impelling the wherry and the fishing boat.

Several surveyors agree in stating, that steam coaches, with the breadth of wheel which they use, will be much less destructive to roads than common stages, the greatest injury to roads always arising from the action of’ the horses’ feet. There has, however, been a desire on the part of the Road Trustees, to obstruct the use of steam power as a substitute for horses, and the inordinate rates of toll imposed on steam carriages in various recent Turnpike Acts, are certainly calculated to discourage, and even prohibit, the use of steam-carriages. This the Committee censure in no measured terms. The use of steam-carriages has principally ceased of late, in order that more perfect carriages may be used.

An engineer, named Farey, states, that the reason of the slow progress in their perfection, is, that all the patentees have been bred to other professions, and no mechanic of skill will engage in them, because he considers, the chance of gain during the currency of the patent, as not offering an adequate compensation for time, trouble, and expense. When the steam-carriages do arrive at their perfection, it is expected that they will be run at one-third of the expense of the present stage-coaches.

Many are enemies to the steam-carriages from fear of explosion. An experienced patentee, named Ogle, says, that this is impossible, even with the high pressure of 250 lbs on the square inch. He says, he has ascended hills, rising one foot in six, and after giving a glowing description of the advantages of steam-carriages, considers rail-roads, &c. as far behind the improvements of the age. It is scarcely possible that so many experienced and ingenious persons can be mistaken in their calculations, and we may therefore soon expect to have steam-coaches plying on all our roads.Sydney Monitor, 8 September 1832